Tobacco Control workshops seek harmonized control throughout the FSM

Workshop participants in group photo. Mrs. Shra Alik, FSM Tobacco Control Program coordinator, second from left in front row and WHO's Moadsiri third from right in front row.

FSMIS (June 2, 2014): During the week of the World No Tobacco Day of May 31, the Federated States of Micronesia Tobacco Control Program, with technical assistance from the World Health Organization (WHO), undertook a Tobacco Taxation and Tobacco Law Enforcement Workshop.

The FSM has been a party to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) since March 2005.

A WHO FCTC Needs assessment on the implementation of the FCTC was conducted by the FSM Government and the Convention Secretariat from April to November 2012. This assessment included an initial analysis of the status, challenges and potential needs deriving from the FSM’s most recent implementation report, which drew from wide range of information involving departments, agencies and representatives of the State Governments.

The tobacco taxation workshop focused on matters relative to Article 6 of the Convention which covers price and tax measures as "effective and important means of reducing tobacco consumption by various segments of the population, in particular young persons". The article also stipulates that FSM "should take account of its national health objectives concerning tobacco control" through tax and price policies.

The tobacco law enforcement workshop focused on identifying ways to strengthen enforcement of the Pohnpei State Code on tobacco products.

The main facilitators at the workshop included Ms. Ada Moadsiri, the Tobacco Free Initiative focal point for the WHO Division of Pacific Technical Support in Suva, Fiji and Mr. Richard Moufa who is with the WHO Country Liaison Office in the FSM, which provides direct technical support to the FSM, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau.